Mr. Klutz Is Nuts!

November 1, 2004
Gr 2-3-This humorous story features a nontraditional but goodhearted principal who skateboards to school and constantly challenges students to strive for academic excellence. When second-grader A.J. gets sent to the office because he didn't do his homework, Mr. Klutz gives him a candy bar as an incentive to try harder. Then the man proposes that if all students in the school complete one million math problems he will throw a chocolate party with all the treats they can eat. Other challenges follow, as Mr. Klutz promises to climb the flagpole if the kids complete Election Day essays, dress up in a turkey costume and ride a pogo stick down Main Street when they compile a list of 100,000 spelling words, etc. Although the children hold up their end of each bargain, they begin to worry about Mr. Klutz as his promises get weirder and weirder. Eventually, they tell him that they will stop learning unless he stops his crazy antics. Black-and-white cartoons add to the silliness, and the large print and simple vocabulary make this an easy chapter book that will satisfy newly confident as well as reluctant readers who ask for funny books.-Kristina Aaronson, Henniker Community School, NH

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